It has been a busy 48 hours in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League with a total of 10 games on the schedule between Friday and Saturday.
The Kindersley Klippers had a big weekend at home as they knocked off the Humboldt Broncos Friday night 5-3, and the Yorkton Terriers Saturday 5-2. The Klippers have had a knack for coming back in games this season and on Friday they scored 4 goals in the 3rd period to come back from a 2 goal deficit and hand the Broncos just their 2nd loss of the season. With the two wins this weekend, Kindersley improved their record to 4-7-0-2 on the year.
Meanwhile, the Humboldt Broncos would bounce back in their 2nd game of the week as they came back from a 2 goal deficit in the 3rd period Saturday to knock off the Nipawin Hawks 5-4. Ben Kotylak tied the game with 11:23 remaining in the 3rd and Samuel Marberg would score the game winner with 5:39 remaining in regulation. The Broncos are now 11-2-0-0 on the year, while the Hawks have dropped 3 straight and are 5-8-1-1.
It was a tough week for the Yorkton Terriers who played 3 games in 3 nights and failed to pick up a point out on the road. With their loss to Kindersley Saturday night, the Terriers have now lost 4 straight games and have dropped to 6-8-0-0 on the year. They will look to snap their losing skid on Wednesday when they host the Humboldt Broncos.
The Notre Dame Hounds also played 3 games in 3 nights this weekend, earning 3 out of a possible 6 points. After winning 4-0 in Nipawin Thursday, the Hounds would lose a tight, low scoring game in Flin Flon Friday 2-0. The trip closed with a meeting against the well rested La Ronge Ice Wolves, but the two teams would go back and forth, trading chances, and as a result would need overtime. In the extra frame, Ryley Morgan would play hero for the Ice Wolves and give them the 3-2 win. The win was also La Ronge’s 3rd straight.
The Melfort Mustangs earned a the weekend sweep at home over the Estevan Bruins, winning Friday 3-0, and Saturday 3-2. Newcomer Ryan Duguay had a great first weekend on the ice for the Mustangs, registering 2 goals and 3 assists in 2 games. The two wins get Melfort back to .500 on the year with a 6-6-4-0 record. Meanwhile, Estevan has dropped 3 straight and are now 8-9-0-0 on the season, but still lead the Viterra division.
It was a back and forth home and home this weekend between the Melville Millionaires and the Weyburn Red Wings. Friday night’s tilt between the two teams in Melville saw the home team come out with a big 6-1 win. However, Saturday’s game in Weyburn may have been the game of the weekend. The Wings would get out to an early 3-0 lead in the first, but a five goal middle frame for the Mills would help vault them to a 5-4 advantage. In the 3rd, the Wings would score the equalizer with 5:52 remaining thanks to Simon Pollock’s 4th of the season, and then snag the lead back with 1:34 remaining as Lucas Jeffreys would net his first of the year. Weyburn would score the empty netter to secure the 7-5 win.
The Battlefords North Stars continued their dominance so far this season with two wins over the Yorkton Terriers this week and are now 13-0-0-1 this season. They will continue their lengthy homestand on Tuesday when they host Estevan.
Flin Flon won their lone game of the week 2-0 Friday night over Notre Dame and got back in the win column. It was also a big weekend for the club off the ice, as forward Jacob Vockler committed to Merrimack College. (NCAA Division 1)
Action resumes on Tuesday with a pair of games on the schedule. Estevan will look to snap their 3 game losing streak when they visit the Battlefords North Stars and the La Ronge Ice Wolves play host to the Melville Millionaires.
